Advocating plantation of more trees to protect forest resources of the state from imminent extinction, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu today stressed the need for strict monitoring of National Afforestation Programmes implemented by forest development agencies.
Addressing the two-day conference of senior forest officers which began here this morning, the Chief Minister suggested for nvolvement of panchayats and Gaon Burahs (GBs) in afforestation programme for its judicious execution, official sources informed.
Khandu, while throwing light on Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), advised that the Forest Department needs to bring about such schemes which were feasible and beneficial for both the people and the environment. He also advocated for more and more afforestation programmes to increase the density of forests and fill up bare lands considering various developmental activities being undertaken in the state including Trans-Arunachal Highway, Hydro Power Development, Green Field Airport, Defence roads and compensate for the diverted land and forest for these projects. ‘’Arunachal Pradesh has been immensely contributing to check the menace of global warming. With the plans for afforestation, we need to set examples for others,’’ the Chief Minister asserted.
Khandu further requested the principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF) to conduct periodical spot inspection to ensure that the field officers discharge their duties sincerely. Viewing seriously over the degrading wildlife in the state and absence of comprehensive plans to check it, the Chief Minister asked the senior forest officers to plan and suggest the government with practical schemes so that the wildlife could be protected from extinction, reported UNI.
He also suggested for implementation of the wildlife protection laws in a holistic manner. ‘’The Supreme Court ban on timber operation in the state since 1996 should have been taken as a challenge and viewed as an opportunity to develop our vast non-timber forest resources like bamboo, cane, medicinal plants etc,’’ Mr Khandu emphatically said and called upon the senior forest officers to go to the field, interact with the people and chalk out some viable plans and strategies to improve the economy and livelihoods of the people, the sources added.